Sow Liquidation-Weekly Slaughter-Storage Stocks to Determine Live Hog Prices
CANADA - A Saskatchewan livestock economist expects North American sow liquidation, weekly US hog slaughter numbers and global demand for North American pork to drive live hog prices heading into the summer and the fall, writes Bruce Cochrane.

North American Pork Producers Call for Immediate Direction in Regards to M-COOL
CANADA - Pork producers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border are appealing for answers to as yet unresolved questions over pending mandatory U.S. Country of Origin Labelling (M-COOL) legislation.

Delayed 2008 Farm Bill Creates Uncertainty Over M-COOL
CANADA - The Minnesota Pork Producers Association says delayed passage of the 2008 U.S. Farm Bill is creating uncertainty as pork producers prepare for Country of Origin Labelling, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Paylean Approval Could Come By Summer
CANADA - Canadian market access to China is expected could improve later this year if Chinese officials decide to approve the use of the hog feed additive commonly marketed under the brand name Paylean.

Increased Ingredient Costs Threaten Manufacture of Food Products in Canada
CANADA - The Manitoba Food Processors Association warns the increasing cost of ingredients for processed food products threatens to drive the production of many of these products out of Canada, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Study Identifies International Marketing Opportunities for Canadian Pork
CANADA - A study conducted by Canada Pork International has identified a range of opportunities for Canada to promote and expand the sale of its pork products on the international market, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Tough Decisions Needed to Recover Increasing Costs
CANADA - Faced with uncertain future and the inability to recover record-high feed bills, Canadian hog farmers have no option but to slaughtering breeding stock and even young piglets to cut their losses and lift market prices.

Producers Urge for Swift Sort Out For Mandatory COOL
CANADA - North American hog producers are urging the US government finalise the Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling issue as quickly as possible and end the uncertainty facing pork producers, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Exports on a Roll
CANADA - Last week Jim Long reported that the Iowa-Minnesota lean price was US$48.89 on 21 March. Three weeks later - 10 April - the price was US$ 58.76, giving a 10¢ ($20 per head) increase in 3 weeks. He says producers can expect another $30/head...

Canadian Genetics Shipped to Expanding Russian Agri-Business
CANADA - Genesus has just completed the successful delivery of a Four Plane Shipment of swine genetics to Kuban AgroHolding of Krasnodar, Russia.

Ottawa Farmers Get $50-million for Culling Herds
CANADA - The federal government plans to pay pig producers up to $50-million in total to slaughter as many as 150,000 breeding pigs. The move is aimed at curbing the deepening crisis in Canda's pig industry.

Euthanasia - Only Option for Manitoba's Desperate Producers
WINNIPEG - Desperate Manitoba pig producers, suddenly unable to ship young pigs to the United States, are preparing to euthanase hundreds of thousands of animals over the next few months.

Federal Cull Breeding Swine Program Begins Today
CANADA - A 50 million dollar program designed to help Canadian pork producers reduce the size of their breeding herds officially kicks off today, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Producers Should Apply Early for Federal Cull Program
CANADA - Canadian pork producers are being encouraged to apply as early as possible for compensation under the Federal Cull Breeding Swine Program, says Bruce Cochrane.

Support Building to End Manitoba Hog Moratorium
CANADA - Support among Manitoba's agricultural commodity organisations for an end to the province's ban on hog industry expansion continues to build, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Carnage Continues But Ethanol Ideal is Over
CANADA - Last week Jim Long reported that Spectrum, a Manitoba feed/ 20,000-sow production operation was in receivership. Another Western Canadian production system was also in trouble and this week comes the sad news that Stomp Farms, a 25,000-sow system...

Cull Program Applications to be Available Monday
CANADA - Applications for the federal government's 50 million dollar Cull Breeding Swine Program will be made available beginning Monday, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Early Access to AgriStability TAP
MANITOBA - The provinces beleaguered hog farmers will be offered early access to their expected AgriStability payout for 2008, under a Targeted Advance Payment (TAP) program that was announced by Manitoba's government yesterday.

Manitoba Pork Council Calls on Ottawa to Challenge M-COOL Under NAFTA
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council reports Canadian weanling pig producers are beginning to feel the impact of pending U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling legislation, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Futures Markets Suggest Higher Hog Prices By Summer
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board reports the current futures markets suggest western Canadian hog prices could start to see a rebound by early 2009, writes Bruce Cochrane.